Rescue workers in Qana
Photo: Reuters
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Photo: AP
How many were killed in Qana?
While initial reports claimed 57 people were killed in village when building collapsed following Israel air strike, Red Cross says 28 bodies have been retrieved from rubble so far
How many people died in Qana? Five days have passed since Israel's deadly air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana in which 57 civilians were killed when a struck building collapsed. But the International Red Cross said Sunday that 28 people, including 19 children, were killed and the world body published the same figure on Thursday, Ynet has learnt.
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Speaking to Ynet by phone from Geneva, Bouvier said rescue efforts have been slowed because heavy equipment is needed to move large pillars and collapsed walls.
Lebanese officials say more bodies remain trapped under the rubble but Bouvier could not confirm the reliability of the reports.
And as such, nearly a week after the event, many questions remain unanswered. Where did the report that "some 60 people" were killed come from and what was it based on?
What are the bases for estimations that more bodies remain under the rubble and how do they know how many bodies are there? Why wasn't the 48-hour ceasefire used to bring in heavy equipment from Beirut to dig in the rubble?
These questions can only be answered by the Lebanese but they are in no rush to dispel the cloud over what they labeled "The second Qana massacre."
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Thursday that over 900 Lebanese civilians were killed since fighting broke out between Israel and Hizbullah on July 12. Over 3,000 were injured.
He added that a third of the injured are children aged under 12.
Ronen Bodoni contributed to this report
